Cowfold climb top of Division 2 after tough home win

With Roffey’s home game against Clymping postponed and Upper Beeding throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at Montpelier Villa, Cowfold took over as the front runners.

Rustington opted to play with a strong wind the first half and the home side were let off by some poor finishing from a series of corners.

Cowfold still caused problems on the break, but neither side could find the opener before the break.

Within the first few minutes of the second half, Cowfold took the lead when the ball fell to Greg Brabon 20 yards out, whose deflected effort found the corner.

Rustington broke and when the ball was played into the box the referee penalised a Jake Sawyer push, with Chris Darwin drilling down the middle from the penalty spot to level the scores.

Paul Williams then made a great save to deny Rustington the lead, while at the other end, the visiting stopper collapsed with a dislocated knee and was stretchered off.

With nine minutes left, a through ball from Luke Parsons found Brabon in space inside the box and he coolly slotted home.

Substitute Nigel Smith then netted a late goal after a neat one-two with fellow replacement Phil Marshall.

Cowfold: Williams, Hatton, Mitchell Harris, Lau, Sawyer, Brabon, Parsons, Stevens (Dalton), Nash (Marshall), Boughton (Smith), Deane.